Smelting? Not likely.

[Hossfly]

It gets melted no mater which way you say it, unlike sublimation, which matter goes from a solid to a gas without going thru the liquid phase. Like solid Co2. Or Ice in a frost free freezer.

[sharps4590]

Interesting, some feel it important to differentiate between smelting and melting scrap lead, and take no notice when people say they "casted" a pile of "cast" bullets. Perhaps it is more important that the reader understand the action undertaken rather than grammer being used?

That's grammatically incorrect whereas "smelting" when referring to melting lead is process incorrect. If one is melting lead, whether new, range pick-up, roof flashing, plumbing pipe or telephone line lead, that's all it is. Melting down and cleaning reclaimed lead is no more smelting than is melting new lead. Neither is beginning with ore.

I can enjoy some snarkiness and sarcasm as usually there's a bit of humor to be found.

[Idz]

To add to the confusion: If you cook range scrap in a closed container you produce a lot of carbon from the organic bits in it. And some of the lead and tin from the bullet fragment dust has been oxidized. Lead or tin oxide is reduced by carbon to metallic form beginning at temperatures around 550 F so we actually are converting 'ore' to metal.

[MT Gianni]

If what we do is just melt alloy, why is there dross? I have no problem with using smelting, though I have lived near smelters much of my life.

[gwpercle]

We know it's incorrectly used terminology ... like the term boolit isn't even a real word ...but that's what we call it !
Remember ...When in Rome speak as the Romans do ...
well you in Cast Boolit Land ... get with the lingo .
My favorite term is Beagling... you wont believe what the Urban Dictionaries definition of beagling is ...look it up !!! I never Knew !!!
Gary

[kmw1954]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/render

This is the term and definition I use. I render from one form to another form by melting.

[Green Lizzard]

Well, none of us can spell bullet either (I know I googled it), then in the bible they would "try" it along with their gold and silver

Bill

[lightman]

I'm guilty of using the word "smelting" and probably will continue to do so even though I know that its incorrect. It won't be the first time that I misused a word.

[rking22]

I don’t use it myself as I know the actual process, but I know what people are referring to when it is used here. Same with clip/mag and 45 long colt, and all the other terms people want to nit pick over. As a personality that wants to receive and provide the most correct information, I find my tolerance of the “inaccuracies “ in my hobby to be refreshing, I am becoming more human.

[KYCaster]

I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!
IT'S NOT SMELTING, IT'S RENDERIING!

Whew! I'm glad I got that out of my system. I don't really want to be the grammar police, but apparently somebody has to do it.

It's kinda like rendering lard. You start with something you can't use in its current form (pig fat or range scrap) and through the judicious application of heat and processing you RENDER it into a more usable form (lard or lead).
In the course of the process you also produce a by product (cracklin's or dross).
So, Ummmmm... here the analogy starts going off track because the dross is pretty much useless and has to be disposed of, but the cracklins are really tasty and make an excellent snack. So, eat the cracklins, don't eat the dross, it's probably not good for you.

Just my not so humble opinion.
Jerry

PS... Don't try to fight the barn cat for the cracklins, you'll lose and end up bleeding!

[rking22]

Now I’m hungry! I think we have suffered thread drift .....

[elmacgyver0]

I don't remember ever using the term smelting when cleaning up my lead.
But thanks to this thread or as some say tread that is about to change.

[bishopgrandpa]

Smelt-melt
Bullet-boolit
How many words can we add to tje list?

[Froogal]

Froogal, I did not know that or I wouldn't have started the thread.

Not a problem. Obviously this subject does need to be brought up and discussed more than once.

[mdi]

Wow! I've been a member of castboolits since 2008 (after lurking for about a year) and I have no idea how the forum survived with us all using one incorrect word. Maybe we should demand that all moderators have an English degree so they can tell us if our vocabulary and grammar are correct.

But dis ole guy seed to git da jest of whut thu udder guys were talikn' 'bout when day wus say tings rong...

[Jackpine]

mdj,

I married into a full blooded Norveeegin family MANY years ago, and long ago learned how to translate mispoken words, and so never even noticed any of these words might be wrong.

All I have to say is "UFFDA!"

[Conditor22]

smelt
boolit
beagleing
Leementing

[Mal Paso]

Smelting no longer means what it used to. The definition has been diluted and there's no getting it back. I almost bought a Bureau of Land Management t shirt until I found that's not what BLM means anymore. Try to get that one back. LOL

[mdi]

The "American" language changes almost daily. New words and terms are coined and older words change meaning. I'm sure if one was diligent enough (and really cared ) they could find hundreds of "misused" words and terms. I grew up in the ghetto, but also went to college so I have no trouble understanding a friend from the 'hood or a college professor and never once misunderstood a member's post (unless they used abbreviations or acronyms I've never seen) and I think this whole thread is a waste of effort...

[Newboy]

Just a part of the gradual dumbing down of our nation.


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